Outdoor Seats for Eats

In my quest to create an outdoor space within the confines of the city, I've been on the lookout for a table for outdoor dining. My first idea was to make a picnic table from scratch. Seems simple enough right? Well, finding out how much wood costs (who knew trees were so dang expensive?!) and how much time would have to go into this "easy" project, I decided I would rather spend a little more moola and actually be enjoying the table before August. Enter Target. Not only do I love Target, but Target must love me because I found the perfect table and not only does it look nice and fit our patio but it folds into a bench! To make a good find even better, the table was 35% off when I found it so I ordered it online (find it here) and it was at my door 10 days later.

Upon arrival of the box (and the start of my excessive excitement) I again had the idea to be handy and decided to put together the table myself. Hubs raised an eyebrow with this revelation but I was confident in my carpentry skills after putting together our IKEA dresser with its 8,000 parts.

Sadly, it was not to be. I came upon a problem in step 1 as I did not have a clue how to tighten a nut/bolt/washer combination. Dear hubs stepped in to help and kindly put together the table, saving our future guests the trouble of falling through the table I would have constructed.

And it switches easily from table...

...to garden bench!

With the Chicago summer stretching before us, many delicious grilled meals and outdoor game nights with friends are sure to lay ahead. Care to join?

What are you wearing in the kitchen?

Cooking can be a rather messy task and an apron can protect you from spatters of marinara or puffs of flour. However, there is no need to strap on a plain canvas apron when there are so many more chic options available these days. I was reading an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune about the history and rebirth of the kitchen apron. At one time the symbol for the lifestyle women were trying avoid, today's generation of women are embracing their domestic side and doing it in style! A few tres chic options...

Etsy seller Boojiboo makes these flattering aprons designed to complement your girlish figure. I love the red and black together.

Anthropologie has always been a favorite store of mine and I just love perusing their home goods. Among them are darling aprons. Wouldn't this one be perfect for a weekend at the lake?

Etsy seller AnniesAttic combines bold fabrics and patterns to create cheerful and funky aprons. The half apron is easy to tie on and take off when dinner is served. The color combinations in this one remind me of the 70s.


Polka dots are back and the aprons at Carolyn's Kitchen have a just a little extra sass. Eat your heart out June Cleaver.

Exclusively for the entertaining hostess, don't even think about using this one while you're actually cooking. A quickchange before your dinner party and finish your outfit off with this striking fuchsia and black apron from Heavenly Hostess.

And to add a little humor (and tequila) to your kitchen is this lime green number you can find at Target. Take those kitchen "oopsies" with a grain of salt and tie this one on for a night of bbqin' on the patio. And yes, this one is already hanging in my kitchen.